June 08, 2025 · By Josh

Confession: I didn’t finish The Artist’s Way .

It’s not because the book isn’t valuable (it is). But when I picked it up, I expected philosophy on creativity—not a 12-week workbook with assignments and solo artist dates.

I’m a preschool teacher and a dad of two. Taking myself out on “creative dates”? That’s a comedy routine. The only time I get to myself is from 5:00 to 7:00 AM , before the chaos of breakfast and daycare drop-offs begins .

But that quiet window changed my life—thanks to one habit I did keep from the book:

Morning Pages.

My Morning Pages Workflow Needed a Tool That Actually Worked

The idea is simple: write 750 words first thing in the morning to clear your head and unlock creativity.

But handwriting? Not happening. I type everything.

I tried using Microsoft Word, creating a “Brain Purge” doc. Every day, I’d scroll to find where I left off, do math on my word count, and try not to get distracted by autocorrect or formatting buttons.

It worked… barely . And it didn’t feel good.

What I needed was a tool that respected the purpose of Morning Pages: unfiltered focus .

Meet TypeSlate: The Best App for Morning Pages in 2025

That frustration led me to build TypeSlate —a minimalist writing app that blocks distractions, tracks word counts, and keeps you locked in until you’ve hit your goal.

Here’s what makes it ideal for Morning Pages:

• Fullscreen writing with no exit until you hit your word count
• Zero distractions (no menus, no notifications, no spellcheck)
• Local storage only – your writing stays on your device
• Automatic word tracking – no math or scrolling required
• One-time purchase – no subscriptions, no data mining

Each morning, I open TypeSlate, set my goal to 750 words, hit start, and the screen fades to black. I write until the bar fills. No tabs. No “just checking Twitter.” Just me and the blank screen.

Why TypeSlate Beats Traditional Journaling Apps

Unlike popular note-taking apps (Evernote, Obsidian, Google Docs), TypeSlate doesn’t try to organize your thoughts. It doesn’t want your tags, your folders, or your cloud sync.

It just wants you to write.

And it does that better than anything else I’ve used.

This tool is ideal for:

• Writers starting their day with a brain dump
• Students and professionals seeking mental clarity
• Journaling enthusiasts who want privacy and consistency
• Anyone avoiding digital noise first thing in the morning

Bonus: How I Use Morning Pages with ChatGPT

After my session, TypeSlate automatically copies the text to my clipboard.

Most days, I paste it into ChatGPT to ask follow-ups or turn a rant into a blog post. It’s not part of Morning Pages “by the book,” but it works for me. TypeSlate makes that flow seamless.

Of course, if your journal includes sensitive or private entries, be mindful where you paste it. But for quick reflections and brainstorms, the pairing is incredibly powerful.

The Verdict: Morning Pages Help. TypeSlate Makes Them Stick.

Since creating TypeSlate, I’ve written over 100,000 words , mostly before breakfast. That routine has helped me clarify ideas, spot patterns, and improve my writing discipline.

If you’ve struggled to make journaling or Morning Pages a daily habit, give TypeSlate a try. It’s free for 30 days—and just $20 if you want to keep it forever.

No monthly fees. No account needed. No data in the cloud.

Just you, your thoughts, and a blank page.